COVINA – A former Charter Oak High water polo coach who claims he was fired for being gay, along with about a dozen of his supporters, attended a meeting of the Charter Oak Unified school board Thursday evening to protest his termination.

Mitch Stein was working as an assistant coach for the boy’s junior varsity water polo team until late August, when he was fired after a parent discovered his Facebook and Myspace accounts.

The parent printed out two photos from the accounts and mailed them with an anonymous letter to Charter Oak High Principal Kathleen Wiard. One photo showed Stein posing with two drag queens. The other showed him about to eat a corn dog.

According Stein, the letter called him “unfit to coach” and demanded he be relieved of his duties. Stein said Wiard complied and fired him, despite his promises to have the photos removed from the Internet.

Stein has since hired an attorney to handle his case. Last month, he filed a discrimination complaint against the district with the state – a precursor to filing a lawsuit. But district officials have rejected his claims and have been unwilling to reinstate him.

So while the Charter Oak Unified school board conducted its business on Thursday, Stein’s supporters – including his daughter Devynn Stein, a Charter Oak freshman – gathered in the back of the room holding signs expressing solidarity with him.

Supporters addressed the board during the public comment period, including Devynn’s mother, Jeanne Amaya.

“As a parent, I don’t feel these pictures, which I have seen, are remotely offensive,” Amaya said. “If one parent has that much power. I would be afraid as a teacher, counselor or administrator.”

Tara Turner, who identified herself as a lesbian and the mother of two Charter Oak High students, said the situation amounted to bullying by a “homophobic parent.”

“He has done nothing wrong,” Turner said. “We are trying to teach our students and these are the examples we are giving? We will not let ourselves be bullied.”

Another parent, Sandra Oddo, attended the meeting to urge the board to lend its support for a new high school pool, but said she felt compelled to speak about the situation with Stein. Oddo told the board to keep in mind that Stein was an excellent coach during his time at the school.

“I was able to see Mr. Stein coach this summer. He did a great job,” Oddo said.

Because the board had not been scheduled to discuss Stein’s firing, its members could not respond to comments from the audience or take any action Thursday.